Cable Guide
1-10
308604-14.20 Rev 00
Cable Connector Basics
Before using this guide, you should be familiar with its terminology and the
connector types Nortel Networks provides.
Connector Terminology
This guide uses several terms to describe generically the various types of
connectors and their physical/electrical attributes. Table 1-4
lists these terms and
their definitions.
Note:
The new cable descriptions accurately depict the functions supported by
the cable. The old cable descriptions may not exactly match the descriptions of
the new cables.
Table 1-4. Connector Terms
Term Description
Pins These are the short, rigid, lead wires protruding from a plug-type connector. The pins
of a plug connector penetrate and make electrical contact with counterpart sockets,
or holes, in a receptacle-type connector.
Sockets These are the holes in a receptacle-type connector. Each hole:
• Accepts one counterpart pin of a plug-type connector
• Completes an electrical connection to its counterpart pin
Plug This type of connector provides a number of pins and attaches to a receptacle-type
connector.
Receptacle This type of connector provides a number of sockets, or holes, that accept the pins of
a plug-type connector.
Physical
interface
This is a plug- or receptacle-type connector located on the router hardware platform
or on a device such as an Ethernet transceiver. The physical interface accepts an
appropriate (counterpart) cable connector.
Termination This is the connector at one end of a cable; a termination can be either a plug- or
receptacle-type connector.
